Trimming the tree and such

We usually leave for Thanksgiving and I like to put up the Christmas tree for FHE the week we leave, so it is up when we get home. Because, really, if you wait until after your tree only gets to be up for 3ish weeks. That just doesn't work for me. Even though having the tree up is a SERIOUS lesson in patience because the kids are uncontrollably drawn to it like bees to honey, (Maggie and Naomi have already knocked it over). But I love it and I want it to be up for as long as appropriately possible!

We went to Cascade for Thanksgiving and I didn't take hardly any pictures. Mom, Dad, Leslie, and Alex were there. We had a great time. Alex and Leslie entertained our kids pretty much the whole time, it was great! We had a delicious, huge Thanksgiving dinner. It snowed almost the whole time we were there and the kids got to go sledding. In true VanderLouw style, Elliot had what can only be described as an asthma attack (he doesn't actually have asthma but it happens every once in while, we have a nebulizer that I forgot), but after a quick trip to the doctor for a breathing treatment and a little prednezone he was fine.

I did manage to get a few shots of the amazing scenery.

*sigh* I love that place.

We also have gotten tons of snow at home.

My cute gingerbread-looking-house in the beautiful snow :)

I truly do have so much to be thankful for.

Hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving!

Seasons

2 weeks ago I looked out my window and saw this

(couldn't help it...)

2 days ago, I saw this

Love this time of year :)

The Obligatory Halloween Post

I know you all want to see pictures of my darling children in their darling Halloween costumes, so I will indulge your wishes! I love Halloween, it is so much fun when you have kids. They get so excited about it.

We had Grace the Snow Princess

I think the pink socks are a nice touch :)

Elliot the blue crayon

No I did not get a full body shot of him *mother of the year*

I take that back...

Love this kid...

Maggie the "pink" *wink wink* crayon (which she insisted on being after she saw Elliot's costume, she proceeded to change her mind about 25 times but once the costume is bought, well, sorry!)

Full body shot? Nope...

Naomi the lion (does this costume look familiar to anyone else? :) )

Sweet girl

Sometimes it's just easier to take a picture without Naomi in it.

For all intents and purposes, Halloween was on Friday the 29th this year. We had school parties and church parties (which was totally insane by the way, but really fun, but so insane that I couldn't take hardly any pictures!). We didn't go trick-or-treating on Sunday but the kids probably had more fun handing out candy than they would've trick-or-treating so it was all good!

Elliot also had a Kindermusik party.

Don't you just love Ms. Teresa's costume? She never disappoints!

And don't worry, I did get one shot of all the kids together...

With my phone *sigh*.

and on a totally unrelated note, I think I figured out where Elliot gets his inspiration...

Especially at about 2:20 on :)